Cutting device for shingles



Jan. 29, 1957 o. .1. BECKER CUTTING DEVICE FOR SHINGLES 2 Shets-Sheet lFiled Sept. 16, 1955 N VEN TOR. Orr@ d Bic/(6. BY Mi XZ/@1 I Ar'rorzNEva.

Jan. 29, 1957 Q J, BECKER 2,779,409

CUTTING DEVICE FOR SHINGLES Filed Sept. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 07T@ rf 55C/(EQ,

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United States Patent O CUTTING DEVICE Fon SHINGLES Otto J. Becker,Cincinnati, Ohio Application September `16, 1955, Serial No. 534,735 1oClaims. (Cl.16444) My invention has to dowith` cutting devices andnmoreparticularly with a portableshingle cutterforjuse in the` cutting ofasphalt shingles and the like.` j 4 p j A roofer in laying up courses ofshingles on a roofis required to cut the shingles to size, particularlyat the edges of the roof where the shingles must coincide with the eavesof the roof; Similarly, slantwise` cuttingofthe shingles is generallyrequired where hips, valleys and the like are encountered. Most rooferscut the` shingles `to the required size using hand shears, the amountand .de-l gree of cutting being determined either by sight. or" by iirstscoring the shingle along the desiredline ,of c ut. These methods arenot only inaccuratebut in addition the continuous use of hand `shears istiring and often results in discomfort or injury to the roofers hand.

In accordance with the instant invention I `liave. pro"-i vided aportable cutting device which may besecured to the roof being shingledto quickly and accurately cut the. shingles to proper size. p Y It is,therefore, a principal object` ofmy invention to provide a cuttingdevice on which a shingle to be leut may be aligned and severed along apredetermined line by means of a pivoted lever mounting a cuttingknife.A p

A further object of my invention isthe provision of a cutting devicehaving a shingle supporting surface to which a base knife is fixedlysecured, the supporting surface being provided with adjustable guidemeans by means of which the shingle may be accurately aligned withrespect to the base knife, whereupon the shingle may be severed alongthe line established by the base knife by means of a coacting movableknife carried by a pivoted lever. 1

A further object of my invention is the provision of a shingle cuttingdevice of the character described wherein the lever carrying the movablecutting blade is so mounted that a shingle positioned on thejsupportingsurface may be moved rearwardly beyond the pivot point of the lever arm.j

Still a further object of my invention is the provision of a cuttingdevice of the character describedin which the base of the device,including the lever` arm supports, may be formed as a single castingincluding a'well or receptacle for cleaning iluid for the cutting knife.

Yet another object of my invention isthe provision of a cuttingdevicewhich is capable of cuttingdiverse materials other than shingles,such as oor tile, plastic` `tile and the like. j j I These as `well asother objects of my inventionwill appear hereinafter or which w`i1l beapparentlto the skilled worker in the art upon reading `thesespecifications, I accomplish by that construction and arrangement ofparts of which I shall nowl describe anexemplary embodiment. Referenceis nowmade to the accompanying drawings wherein: j, A. 1 Figure `1 is aplan view of a shingle cutting devicein accordance withrny inventionQflpj, i l Figurer 2 `is a vertical `sectional .view taken alongsthe line2.-2 of Figure 1.

A, 2,779,409 Rittented Jan. 29, 1957 .Figurev is an enlarged verticalsectional view taken along the line 3-3. ofrFigure 1. i. a

Figure 4 is an enlarged Aperspective viewof a latch member for-securingthe lever arm in closed position during transportation of the device.`t.. l

Figure 5 is a partiallside elevational view illustrating an alternativeformof movable cutting knife.-

Figure 6.is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view lillustrating thenotchingofzthebase knife to receive plastic tiles andthe likes.- 'l l.;v lj.

j Figure 7, is .aperspectivejview illustrating the manner in which thedevice may be used while shinglingthe roof ofahouse... t f; i i

Figure 8.-is fanwenlarged `fragmentaryplan view with parts brokenawayillustrating the-.adjustable mounting of the lever armto the supportingsleevep.r

.,.Figure 9 risanenlarged Afragmentary elevational view of the parts`illustratedfin-` Figure 8. y

1 Figure `10 iszatverticalA sectionalview taken along the line 10-10 ofFigurem 1- f l i Referring 'novi/to. Figures `1` andf2 ofthe drawings, lhave therein illustratedia cuttingdevice having a base 1 formedtoprovide a shingle supporting surface or platform 2 elevated with respectto the remainder of the base; The platform 2.1terminates'alongonesideedge inra planar wall 3 to which 'is secured-abase" orixed knife 4 theupper edgefof-Vwhi'ch lis preferablyin alignment with the surface of thesupporting platform.

Thebase 1f.and\ the platform Z may `be conveniently cast as anintegral-funn, aluminumror other light weight metalor alloysthereoffbeing preferredr-lln casting the base` and platformit isalso-contemplated to` provide `a welllor receptacle 5 at one corner of'the base; and, if desired, the upstanding lugs 46:-andf7 fori supportingthe movable-knife mayibeprovided as. anwintegral part of the casting. l.n Y i: x w1 l. t

j Itwill be understodtthat `theshingle to be cut will be supported onthe platform 2`and aligned with respect to the basekhife 4.` "Exactalignmentvof the shinglemay be obtained by means of a guide member`8slidably and pivotally engagedin theitrackway 9by`1 means of a thumbscrew 10 and sliding block 11, the thmblscrew and block coactng,tosecure the guidwmember to the platform in the position desired. e-Analternate position of the guide is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.1

A movable knife'blade 12`adaptedfto coact with the baseknife 4 `issecuredto alever arm 13 terminating at its free end in a liandle orgripping member 14. At its opposite 'end the-leveifamis secured to alateral eXtension 15 of anelonga'tedcollar or sleeve`16. The sleeve 16is, in turn, xedly secured ta Ishaft 17 rotatably journaled at its endsin theupstariding lugs 6 and 7. As best seen infFigureS, `the lub 7 isprovided with a recessed bushing 18 which receives an' end of the shaft`1l,"the shaft` being axlally"adjustable"by means of the threadedadjustment screw 19 extending through the end of the bushing forcontctwith "the end' ofthe shaft.` At its opposite end the shaft117\(seeFigure 1) is slidably received inthe lug :6 and'spr'ing pressed towardthe bushing 18 and adjustment sorew"19 by means of a spring mein-` ber20 compressedbetweenthelug 6 Aand av collar 21 se-` cured to the shaft.By this expedient the `movable knife 12 maybe conveniently broughtintoshearing contact with the-base1knife 3.-' f'u f si 1 r The mountingofthe ilever arm 13is such that lateral adjustment of the knife 1Zf'elativetothe base knife 4 maybe readily made: As best 'seen in Figures8, 9 and 10, `the farm 13" terminates rearwardly `in an enlarged portion36 having `a"rcha`nnel "37 which :receives a mating projection 38`formed `integrally with the `lateral extensionolS. `1 fThepiojectiontBSis enlarged at one end, as at 39, and the channel 37 issimilarly enlarged, as at 40, to receive the enlarged end 39. The lever13 is fixed to the extension by means of a vertically disposed pivot pin41 passing through the parts in the manner best seen in Figure 9. Thelever arm is thus mounted for pivotal movement normal to its lengthV soas to accurately align the blade 12 with the blade 4.

Lateral adjustment of the lever arm 12 is effected by means of setscrews 22 which bear inwardly against the enlarged portion 36, as bestseen in Figure 10, and tend to move the arm 13 away from the extension15. A locking screw 42 passing through the extension 15 and enteringinto threaded engagement with the lever 13 serves to draw the levertoward the extension 15 and hence bring it into abutting relationshipagainst the set screws 22. This arrangement permits accurate alignmentof the blades.

It will be noted that the lugs 6 and 7 are spaced outwardly from theplane of the base knife 4 and the shaft 17 which permits pivotingmovement of the lever arm and movable knife is spaced upwardly from theplane of the platform 2, so that a shingle supported on the platform maybe moved rearwardly beyond the shaft 17 with parts of the shingle lyingto either side of the base knife. This is an important feature of theinvention in that it permits the size of the entire device to bemaintained at a minimum and yet the shingles may be cut lengthwise bysimply moving them along the platform from front to rear, the severedportions of the shingle passing beyond the rearmost end of the movableknife. This is illustrated in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 7 of thedrawings and indicated by the reference numeral 23.

Since the device is intended to be carried from place to place, I havefound it desirable to provide a latch member 24 which may beconveniently pivoted to the base and adapted to engage the lever arm 13to secure it in the closed position. I also prefer to provide the basewith a projecting ear 25 having an opening 26 therein by means of whichthe device may be temporarily secured to the roof, as by means of aroofing nail 27 in the manner illustrated in Figure 7. Additionalopenings, such as the openings 28, 29 and 30 may be provided in the basefor use if it is desired to firmly secure the device to a support.

In Figure 6, I have illustrated a modification of my inventionparticularly suited for the cutting of plastic tiles, such as the tile31, which have downturned or inturned annular flanges 32. Where suchtiles are to be cut, I prefer to elevatethe base knife 4a above thelevel of the platform 2 byv a distance substantially equal to the depthof the flanges 32 and then notch the knife 4a at spaced apart points, asindicated at 33 and 34, so that the iianges 32 may be received therein,in the manner illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 6. Additionalnotches, such as the notch 35, may be provided to accommodate tiles ofdifferent sizes. I have found that the notches, which are generally of awidth of approximately 1/16 to Mg, do not interfere with the normalcutting operation when the device is used for materials other thanflanged plastic tiles.

Where relatively heavy shingles or like material having thicknesses inthe nature of 1/2 are encountered, I prefer to replace the straight edgeknife blade 12 with a curved blade 12a, as illustrated in Figure 5 ofthe drawings, the curved blade 12avbeing secured to the pivoted leverarm 13a.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my device willbe highly useful to roofers in cutting shingles on the job, i. e. whileworking on the roof, in that it eliminates the difficulty inherent inthe use of hand shears and also enables the roofer to quickly andaccurately cut the shingles to exact size. The well or receptacle 5 isintended lto beflled with kerosene, benzine or other fluid which maybeused on a rag to wipe collected asphalt and the like from the cuttingsupporting surface and a fixed knife secured to said base blade, sinceit has been found that repeated use of the knife for cutting asphaltshingles results in an asphalt accumulation on the blade.

Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from thespirit of it.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure and protectby Letters Patent is:

l. A cutting device comprising a base including a work supportingsurface and a fixed knife secured to said base and extending from frontto rear thereof, a shaft extending across the rear of said base,mounting means on opposite sides of said base supporting the ends ofsaid shaft at points spaced outwardly from the plane of said fixedknife, said shaft being spaced upwardly from the plane of said worksupporting surface to provide an open space between the plane of saidWork supporting surface and the lowermost surface of said shaft, a leverarm mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of said shaft, and asecond knife carried by said lever arm, said lever arm and the knifecarried thereby being in position to coact with the said fixed knife.

2. A cutting device comprising a base including a work and extendingfrom front to rear thereof, a shaft extending across the rear of saidbase and supported at its ends by mounting means extending upwardly fromopposite sides of said base, said mounting means lying on opposite sidesof said fixed knife and spaced outwardly therefrom, said mounting meansbeing of a size to space said shaft upwardly from the plane of said Worksupporting surface to provide an open space between the plane of saidwork supporting surface and the lowermost surface of said shaft, a leverarm mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of said shaft, and asecond knife mounted on said lever arm, said lever arm and the knifemounted thereon being positioned to coact with said fixed knife to severa piece of Work, whereby a piece of work on said work supporting surfacehaving portions thereof lying on opposite sides of said fixed knife maybe moved rearwardly as it is cut, passing between said spaced apartmounting means and beneath said shaft and the lever arm mounted thereon.

3. A cutting device comprising a base including a work supportingsurface and a fixed knife secured to said base and extending from frontto rear thereof, the upper edge of said fixed knife being elevated abovethe plane of said work supporting surface, a plurality of spaced apartnotches in the elevated upper edge of said fixed knife, a shaftextending across the rear of said base and supported at its ends bymounting means extending upwardly from said base, said mounting meanslying on opposite Sides of said fixed knife and spaced outwardlytherefrom, said mounting means being o-f a size to space said shaftupwardly from the plane of said work supporting surface, a lever armmounted for pivotal movement about the axis of said shaft, and a secondknife mounted on said lever arm, said lever arm and the knife mountedthereon being positioned to coact with said fixed knife to sever a pieceof Work.

4. A cutting device comprising a base including a work supportingsurface and a fixed knife secured to said base and extending from frontto rear thereof, adjustable guide means on said base for aligning apiece of work relative to said fixed knife, a shaft extending across therear of said base and supported at its ends by mounting means extendingupwardly from opposite sides of said base, said mounting means lying onopposite sides of said fixed knife and spaced outwardly therefrom, saidmounting means being of a size to space the said shaft upwardly from theplane of said Work supporting surface to provide an open space betweenthe plane of said Work supporting surface and the lowermost surface ofsaid shaft, a lever arm mounted for pivotal movement about the axis ofsaid shaft, and a second knife mounted on said lever arm, said lever armand the knife mounted thereon being positioned to coact with said fixedknife to sever a piece of work, whereby a piece of work on said worksupporting surface having portions thereof lying on opposite sides ofsaid fixed knife may be moved rearwardly as it is cut, passing betweensaid spaced apart mounting means and beneath said shaft and the leverarm mounted thereon.

5. A cutting device comprising a base including a work supportingsurface and a fixed knife secured to said base and extending from frontto rear thereon, a shaft extending across the rear of said base andsupported at its ends by mo-unting means extending upwardly from saidbase, said mounting means lying on opposite sides of said fixed knifeand spaced outwardly therefrom, said mounting means being of a size tospace said shaft upwardly from the plane of said work supportingsurface, a lever arm mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of saidshaft, and a second knife mounted on said lever arm, said lever arm andthe knife mounted thereon being positioned to coact with said fixedknife to sever a piece of work, said base including at least oneoutwardly extending portion having an opening therein by means of whichsaid device maybe secured to a support by means of a nail or the likepassed through said opening.

6. A cutting device comprising a base including a work supportingsurface and a fixed knife secured to the said base and extending fromfront to rear thereof, a shaft extending across the rear of said base,mounting means on said base supporting` the ends of said shaft at pointsspaced outwardly from the plane of said fixed knife, said shaft beingjournaled in said mounting means and spaced upwardly from the plane ofsaid work supporting surface, a recessed bushing carried by one of saidmounting means slidably receiving an end of said shaft, an adjustmentscrew extending through the end of said bushing for contact with the endof said shaft, spring means urging said shaft toward said adjustmentscrew, a collar fixed to said shaft, a lever arm mounted on said collarfor pivotal movement about the axis of said shaft, and a second knifecarried by said lever arm, said lever arm and the knife carried therebybeing positioned to coact with the said fixed knife.

7. In a cutting device comprising a base including a work supportingsurface and a fixed knife secured to said base and extending from frontto rear thereof, a shaft extending across the rear of said base,mounting means on opposite sides of said base supporting the ends ofsaid shaft at points spaced outwardly from the plane of said fixedknife, said shaft being spaced upwardly from the plane of said worksupporting surface to provide an open space between the plane of saidwork supporting surface and the lowermost surface of said shaft, acollar fixed to said shaft, an extension projecting outwardly from saidcollar, a lever arm pivotally connected to said extension for limitedpivoting movement relative thereto, and adiustment means for effectingrelative adjustment between said lever arm and said extension.

8. The cutting device claimed in claim 7 wherein said adjustment meanscomprises a set screw threaded through said extension for surfacecontact with said lever and a locking screw extending through saidextension and in threaded engagement with said lever.

9. The cutting device claimed in claim 8 wherein said lever has achannel therein, and wherein said extension has a projection received insaid channel.

l0. In a cutting device having a base including a work supportingsurface and a fixed knife secured to said base and extending from frontto rear thereof, a leverarm mounting a second knife, means mounting saidlever arm for pivotal movement relative to said fixed knife, saidmounting means comprising a shaft spaced upwardly from the plane of saidwork supporting surface, said shaft extending across said base atsubstantially right angles to said fixed knife, a collar on said shaft,a laterai extension projecting outwardly from said collar to which saidlever arm is connected by means of a pivotal connection, and adjustmentmeans for effecting relative adjustment between said extension and saidlever.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 887,236Dunbar May 12, 1908 1,890,234 Pickering Dec. 6, 1932 2,103,217 Ford Dec.2l, 1937 2,238,857 Ford Apr. 15, 1941 2,313,236 Himmel et al Mar. 9,1943 2,327,000 Lund Aug. 17, 1943 2,518,076 Scherig Aug. 8, 19502,519,552 Eller Aug. 22, 1950

